How do you mentally prepare for a round?

Just curious how everyone mentally prepares for a round.  Obviously, there will be a difference between tournaments and recreational rounds, but I was just curious how some people prep.

For me, its just simply running through my head what I want to do.  Occasionally I'll listen to some music to focus, but that's just me.  What about the rest of you?

I look over the course on google earth or the website the night before.

I listen to rock and heavy metal when Im driving to the course.  Oddly enough, listening to angry music helps me relax and gets me feeling very zen.

Beyond that, I just go into it with a mindset that Im going to play with whatever my best swing is that day and whatever happens, happens.

I just take it as any other round, its just another round of golf to me.

I think to myself: "Awesome. I'm playing golf today! I Can't wait!"

That's it.

2 beers prior to teeing off.

This about sums it up! I'm going out to have fun & hang with the fellas, not really preparing for anything.

My strenuous pre-round preparations for our regular weekend 630am tee time:

Wakeup: 600am....5 minute shower......plus 5 more minutes to get out the door.  Departure time is 610am

Key moment....take 3 advil and double check to make sure my belt isn't missing any loops. LOL

6:18am---arrive at course:

Plenty of time to check-in, load the cart,  and take a few practice swings before teeing off!!

I just hit a small bucket on the range to loosen up, then hit the course.

Just do my best to show up 45+ minutes before tee time, have a beer, take a look around.  Anytime I show up 30 minutes or less before tee time, I feel tense and rushed for the first few holes.

For new courses I will check it out on Google Earth and plan out tee shots. At least wrt Driver or No Driver on each hole based on length and obstacles.

Otherwise, on the day of its just remembering to #1, have a good time (don't want to pay 40-60 bucks to be angry all day), #2, play 1 shot at a time and not worry about breaking records or hitting some magic number and finally #3, take something away that will make me better be it physical or mental.

I don't anymore.  I just go out and play and what happens, happens.

For me, the biggest thing is to set expectations reasonably.  I play courses I know, so I already know course strategy and club selection.  The biggest problems I have are understanding where my game is at "generally" and where it is that day "specifically".  I may feel pretty good about my game in general, but have an off day where things just don't feel right.  I try to find a rhythm that fits that particular day.  If it's just not happening, I just try to have fun and not get frustrated.  Some days I can break par, some days, no way.  Trying to shoot a score you have the potential for on a day that you couldn't possibly get there is unreasonable and will lead to frustration and confusion.  Example, Tiger Woods last Sunday.  He certainly had the potential, but just couldn't do it that day and was a little off.  Sometimes you just have to deal with it.  That's reality.

This is my day at a course.

If it's a normal round I show up about an hour or maybe a little more early for my tee time. Get my 10-15 min of stretches in (bad back and early arthritis). I'll do my quick warm up on range first about 8 strokes with each of the following clubs in this order, 8i, 6i, 4i, 3h, 3w, Dr. If 5 of each 8 is a decent I'll head right into a few pitches with the 53/56/60, usually 3-5 of each just to feel where my distance is and how the wind is moving short shots. As long as I don't find any major flaws I'll get 15-30 minutes of putting in. Depending on the course and how busy they are, I sometimes jump on the 9 or 18 green and feel them out, sad the practice areas rarely match the course greens it seems.

I have a couple of guys who like to play for money and are around the same skill level as me. Depending on how I am feeling in the morning I may get to a course as early as 2-3 hours in advance. We don't play for big money or anything, but the competition and desire to win between us is huge, we get to play together 3-4 times a year and it's bring your A game each time; I'm up like $35 for the year and we've met 3 times, just to put in perspective how little the funds involved are haha.

Most courses I go to now I've played at least once in the last year, so I'm familiar with them. If I am hitting a new course I'll read over their score card the night before and try to plan some safety shots; 3w off the box when water is ahead within 300, 3h off the box if water is within 240, look for little creeks that line fairways so I know to try and stay right or left, look at greens to see if which side is the safest side of attack or if it's too bad make note to just hit the middle and try to get a par putt and take a bogey.

Most rounds in the past month are 85-95, if I am in that range I walk away feeling good about my round. I may blow up a couple of holes, but the score care works out because hopefully I've had a few pars and at least attempts to putt for birdie. I try not to notice slow play, hey I've written off 6-8 hours for a day of golf anyway. I have no problem taking 30-45 minutes at the turn and eating a nice meal. I like to think of a day of golf as a nice reward or mini-vacation for a hard week of work. I use to try and get in 27 or more holes a day but I realized I was rushing through a round to get to the next, I wasn't enjoying the wildlife and views of the area, I wasn't having all the fun I could be.

Golf, to me, should be an enjoyable day, not a grind of frustration about a score you feel you deserve.

I get up, have a small breakfast, drive to the course, stretch & loosen up, split a small bucket of range balls with my friend, make a few practice putts,

and head for tee box #1.

My only goal is not to be hungover. If I feel good I play good.

I get to the course early, hit some balls, putt a little to gauge my stroke, and sit down to relax for a few minutes to try to get my mind solely on golf.  I don't get to play as often as I'd like so I want to take full advantage of what time I do get to spend at the course.